John J. O'Connell
Encyclopedia
John J. O'Connell was an American law enforcement officer and police inspector with the New York City Police Department
. A noted detective sergeant during his early police career, he later served as head of the NYPD Police Academy from 1930 to 1942 and Chief Inspector from 1942 until his retirement in 1945.
in 1884 and attended St. Augustine's Parochial School and La Salle Academy
. He was a stenographer prior to joining the New York City Police Department
on September 15, 1905. He made detective sergeant in 1912 and received several commendations by the department for bravery in the line of duty. Much of his early years on the force was spent in undercover
work.
On one of the occasions, he led a squad to arrest gang chieftains Owney Madden
and Tanner Smith
at their headquarters known as the Winona Club. The gangsters were warned by one of their informants and had barricaded themselves in the building by the time O'Connell and his men had arrived. When O'Connell knocked on the door with his club, a gun was fired out a window with the shot "grazing a police officer's skull". The detective sergeant then ordered his men to withdraw around a corner and sent two patrolmen to gain entry to the building from the rear while the rest of the squad were marched across the street in full view of the gang. O'Connell approached the club once again and began arguing with Madden and Tanner, and while the rest of the gang crowded around the front windows to watch their leaders taunt the police, a rear window was left unguarded allowing the two patrolmen to sneak into the building.
The officers crept through the house until reaching the front room here the gang had gathered. They then rushed the gangsters in a surprise attack and the startled men were forced back momentarily. O'Connor immediately had his men break down the doors and within 15 minutes had placed all of the men under arrest and put them "handcuffed and bleeding" in a paddy wagon to a nearby precinct. Both Madden and Tanner received light punishments and were allowed to see Mayor William J. Gaynor who convinced him that the police had used excessive force
and claimed they had been arrested during a card game
. Gaynor then passed "Order No. 7" which prohibited a police officer to use of his club "unless he was prepared to prove that it was in defense of his life".
He was made a police lieutenant in 1920 and then a captain
eight years later. In 1929, he was appointed a deputy police inspector and then head of the NYPD Police Academy the next year. He established the technical research laboratory during his time at the academy and directed the wartime coordination between civilian defense groups and law enforcement agencies. O'Connell was also the author of several books on police practice and procedure which were later adopted as standard textbooks for law enforcement training. His best known work, "Modern Criminal Investigation" (1935), was co-written with Harry Söderman
and outlined early scientific and psychological methods of crime detection.
In 1941, he became assistant Chief Inspector. He left the police academy when he was appointed Chief Police Inspector by then Police Commissioner Lewis Valentine on July 7, 1942. He remained chief inspector for three years until his retirement in 1945. After a long illness, he died at Doctors Hospital on October 18, 1946. He was survived by his wife Helen, his son John Jr. and two grandchildren.
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
. A noted detective sergeant during his early police career, he later served as head of the NYPD Police Academy from 1930 to 1942 and Chief Inspector from 1942 until his retirement in 1945.
Biography
John O'Connell was born in the Lower East SideLower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
in 1884 and attended St. Augustine's Parochial School and La Salle Academy
La Salle Academy
La Salle Academy is a private, all boys high school in the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is a part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York....
. He was a stenographer prior to joining the New York City Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
on September 15, 1905. He made detective sergeant in 1912 and received several commendations by the department for bravery in the line of duty. Much of his early years on the force was spent in undercover
Undercover
Being undercover is disguising one's own identity or using an assumed identity for the purposes of gaining the trust of an individual or organization to learn secret information or to gain the trust of targeted individuals in order to gain information or evidence...
work.
On one of the occasions, he led a squad to arrest gang chieftains Owney Madden
Owney Madden
Owney "The Killer" Madden was a leading underworld figure in Manhattan, most notable for his involvement in organized crime during Prohibition. He also ran the famous Cotton Club and was a leading boxing promoter in the 1930s.-Early life:Owen Vincent Madden was born at 25 Somerset Street, in...
and Tanner Smith
Tanner Smith
Thomas F. "Tanner" Smith was an American criminal and gang leader in New York City during the early 20th century. He was the founder and leader of the Marginals, or "Irish Paddy Gang", which was active in Greenwich Village and along the Hudson River waterfront from around the turn of the century...
at their headquarters known as the Winona Club. The gangsters were warned by one of their informants and had barricaded themselves in the building by the time O'Connell and his men had arrived. When O'Connell knocked on the door with his club, a gun was fired out a window with the shot "grazing a police officer's skull". The detective sergeant then ordered his men to withdraw around a corner and sent two patrolmen to gain entry to the building from the rear while the rest of the squad were marched across the street in full view of the gang. O'Connell approached the club once again and began arguing with Madden and Tanner, and while the rest of the gang crowded around the front windows to watch their leaders taunt the police, a rear window was left unguarded allowing the two patrolmen to sneak into the building.
The officers crept through the house until reaching the front room here the gang had gathered. They then rushed the gangsters in a surprise attack and the startled men were forced back momentarily. O'Connor immediately had his men break down the doors and within 15 minutes had placed all of the men under arrest and put them "handcuffed and bleeding" in a paddy wagon to a nearby precinct. Both Madden and Tanner received light punishments and were allowed to see Mayor William J. Gaynor who convinced him that the police had used excessive force
Police brutality
Police brutality is the intentional use of excessive force, usually physical, but potentially also in the form of verbal attacks and psychological intimidation, by a police officer....
and claimed they had been arrested during a card game
Card game
A card game is any game using playing cards as the primary device with which the game is played, be they traditional or game-specific. Countless card games exist, including families of related games...
. Gaynor then passed "Order No. 7" which prohibited a police officer to use of his club "unless he was prepared to prove that it was in defense of his life".
He was made a police lieutenant in 1920 and then a captain
Police captain
- France :France uses the rank of capitaine for management duties in both uniformed and plain-clothed policing. The rank comes senior to lieutenant and junior to commandant....
eight years later. In 1929, he was appointed a deputy police inspector and then head of the NYPD Police Academy the next year. He established the technical research laboratory during his time at the academy and directed the wartime coordination between civilian defense groups and law enforcement agencies. O'Connell was also the author of several books on police practice and procedure which were later adopted as standard textbooks for law enforcement training. His best known work, "Modern Criminal Investigation" (1935), was co-written with Harry Söderman
Harry Söderman
Harry Söderman was a Swedish police officer and criminalist.He was a pioneer of modern criminology in Scandinavia, and the first head of the National Laboratory of Forensic Science in Sweden between 1939 and 1953.-Personal life:...
and outlined early scientific and psychological methods of crime detection.
In 1941, he became assistant Chief Inspector. He left the police academy when he was appointed Chief Police Inspector by then Police Commissioner Lewis Valentine on July 7, 1942. He remained chief inspector for three years until his retirement in 1945. After a long illness, he died at Doctors Hospital on October 18, 1946. He was survived by his wife Helen, his son John Jr. and two grandchildren.